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IPHIGENIA  IN  TAURIS 


BY  WITTER  BYNNER 


IPHIGENIA  IN  TAURIS 

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TIGER 

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IPHIGENIA  IN  TAURIS 

AN  ENGLISH  VERSION  BY 
WITTER  BYNNER 


NEW  YORK 

MITCHELL  KENNERLEY 
MCMXV 


COPYRIGHT,  1915,   BY 
MITCHELL  KENNEKLEY 


PRINTED   IN   AMERICA 


TO 
BARRY  FAULKNER 


Where  that  corner-house  then  stood, 
Where  your  room  was,  and  our  talks, 
Laths  and  doors  and  tumbled  bricks 
Pile  their  dust  upon  the  walks, 

Thrown  by  no  slow  touch  of  time, 
No  quick  blast  of  magic  fire, 
But  by  sure,  destroying  hands, 
Hands  of  builders,  building  higher. 

Yet  the  builders  with  their  derricks, 
They  shall  never  reach  so  high 
Asa  blue-ascending  tower 
We  were  building  in  the  sky.  .  .  . 

O  remember  how  we  built  it 
Higher  than  in  all  the  lands:  — 
And  be  mindful  of  that  corner 
Where  a  topless  tower  stands! 


Isadora  Duncan  said  one  day,  "  If  only  there  were 
a  simple  English  version  of  IPHIGENIA,  as  human  as 
the  Greek,  no  rhymes,  no  inversions,  no  loss  of  mean- 
ing in  the  sound !  "  And  when  I  wrote  her  this,  she 
liked  and  used  it.  Therefore  the  blame  or  praise  be 
partly  hers. 

WITTER  BYNNER. 


IPHIGENIA  IN  TAURIS 

On  the  seashore  stands  a  great  Temple,  with  steps 
leading  to  a  blood-stained  altar.  Iphigenia,  the  Priest- 
ess, comes  out  of  the  Temple. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Pelops,  the  son  of  Tantalus,  by  speed 

Of  chariot  earned  a  bride,  who  bore  him  Atreus. 

And  Atreus  had  two  sons,  one  Menelaus, 

The  other  Agamemnon,  who  in  turn 

By  Clytemnestra  had  a  child,  and  I 

Am  she,  Iphigenia. 

It  is  thought 

That  I  was  sacrificed  by  my  own  father 
To  Artemis,  in  the  great  quest  of  Helen, 
Upon  an  altar  near  the  bay  of  Aulis, 
There  where  the  long  deep  waves  are  caught  and 

broken 

Hither  and  thither  by  the  winds.  '  That  bay 
Held  Agamemnon's  fleet,  the  thousand  ships 
From  Hellas,  waiting  to  avenge  on  Troy 
The  wrong  done  Menelaus  by  the  loss 
Of  Helen.     But  a  storm  came  up  and  still 
i 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Another  storm,  and  neither  sea  nor  wind 
Would  favor  Agamemnon.     So  he  asked 
Calchas  the  soothsayer  to  consult  the  flame. 
And  this  is  what  was  answered:     "Agamemnon, 
Captain  of  Hellas,  there  can  be  no  way 
Of  setting  free  thy  ships  till  Artemis 
Has  had  fulfilled  Her  promised  sacrifice. 
For  thou  hadst  vowed  to  sacrifice  each  year 
The  fairest  thing  the  year  produced.     And  due 
To  Her  long  since  was  one  whom  Clytemnestra 
Bore  thee,  the  fairest  of  the  year,  thy  daughter 
Iphigenia     .     .     .     Let  her  be  brought  and  killed." 

They  sent  Odysseus  with  his  lying  tongue 
To  lure  me  from  my  mother,  on  the  plea 
That  I  should  wed  Achilles.     When  I  came 
To  Aulis,  they  laid  hold  of  me  and  led 
Me  to  the  flame,  and  would  have  struck  —  I  saw 
The  knife!     But  Artemis  deceived  their  eyes, 
Leaving  a  deer  instead,  and  stole  me  through 
The  radiant  blue  until  She  set  me  down 
Here  in  the  town  of  Tauris,  where  there  live 
Barbaric  men  ruled  by  their  uncouth  King, 
Thoas,  a  rider  reckless  as  the  wind. 
He  made  of  me  a  priestess  in  Her  Temple, 
And  here  I  serve  Her  on  Her  festal  days. 
It  has  a  holy  sound,  that  word,  but  far 
From  holy  are  the  rites  I     ...     Yet  I  dare 
Not  question.     Dumbly  I  must  sacrifice 
To  Her  delight  strangers  who  happen  here. 
2 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


It  was  their  custom  long  before  I  came. 
My  hands  ordain  the  victim.     Other  hands, 
Inside  the  Inner  Temple,  drain  his  blood, 
Which  then  is  poured  upon  this  altar-stone. 

(She  comes  down  the  steps) 

I  dreamed  last  night  a  deathly  dream.     Perhaps 
The  morning  will  dispel  it  if  I  speak  it. 
I  dreamed  myself  at  home  again  in  Argos, 
Asleep  among  my  maidens  —  when  a  roll 
Of  thunder  shook  the  ground.     I  ran  outside. 
I  watched  the  house.     I  saw  the  coping  fall. 
Then  the  whole  palace  plunged  from  roof  to  base. 
Only  one  column  stood  untouched,  of  all 
My  father's  home.     And  that  one  stood  alive, 
A  man  with  bright  brown  hair  and  breathing  lips. 
Then  I  began  unwillingly  to  touch 
His    brow    with    the    water    that    means    woe    to 

strangers  — 
And  with  the  tears  of  my  interpretation. 

Must  it  not  mean  Orestes?  —  Dead,  dead! 
It  was  my  brother  whom  I  touched  with  tears. 
The  pillar  of  a  family  is  the  son, 
And  in  those  waters  is  the  sign  of  death. 

Let  me  then  pour  the  funeral-cup,  for  him 
Who  is  too  far  away  for  nearer  rites. 

(She  goes  up  the  steps  again) 
3 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Come  now,  my  maidens,  my  Hellenic  maidens, 

0  captives  of  the  king !  —  Enslaved  to  serve 
The  living,  let  us  freely  serve  the  dead. 

I  must  go  in  and  pray,  then  call  to  them 
By  the  great  summons  of  the  Temple-bell. 

(She  goes  into  the  Temple) 

ORESTES. 

(Cautiously  following  Pylades  toward  the   Tern- 
pie) 

Take  care  lest  someone  should  be  coming  by! 

PYLADES. 

1  looked  both  ways  and  there  is  no  one  coming. 

ORESTES. 

Is  this  the  Shrine  of  Artemis,  which  we 

Set  out  from  Argos  over  many  seas 

To  find?    O  Pylades!  — is  this  the  Shrine? 

PYLADES. 

I  think  it  is,  Orestes.     So  dost  thou. 

ORESTES. 

Is  that  the  stone,  dark  with  the  blood  of  Greeks? 

PYLADES. 

If  ever  I  saw  blood  —  look,  on  the  edge! 
4 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


ORESTES. 

And  there  beneath  the  roof,  spoils  of  the  dead! 

PYLADES. 

Trophies  of  strangers  whom  these  men  have  mur- 
dered. 

ORESTES. 

Be  careful  how  thou  goest  then  —  be  watchful! 

Why  has  Thy  oracle,  O  Phoebus,  sent 

This  thing  upon  me  and  the  sight  of  blood 

Again?     Have  I  not  seen  enough  of  blood? 

My  mother  shed  my  father's  blood,  I  hers. 

And  then  the  Furies,  with  their  eyes  bloody, 

Hunted  me  down,  a  wanderer  through  the  world  — 

Till  fugitive  I  went  to  Thee,  to  pray 

An  end  of  all  the  cycles  of  despair 

That  sped  me,  maddened  me,  hurled  me  through 

Hellas. 

Thy  answer  came :     "  Go  seek  the  Taurian  land 
Where  Artemis  my  Sister  has  Her  Shrine. 
Discover  there  Her  effigy  that  fell 
From  Heaven  into  the  Temple.     Then  by  skill 
Or  by  good-fortune  take  it  and  proceed 
Surviving  every  hazard,  and  convey 
The  Image  to  the  holy  land  of  Athens." 
No  more  was  said,  except  that  by  this  deed 
I  was  to  be  relieved  of  my  afflictions     .     .     . 
5 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


And  here  I  am,  O  Phoebus,  far  from  home 
Upon  this  dismal  shore  —  obeying  Thee. 

Now,  Pylades,  companion  of  my  task, 

What  course  are  we  to  take?    To  scale  these  walls 

Would  be  impossible.     Are  we  to  climb 

The  open  stairs?  —  and  so  be  seen?     Are  we 

To  force  the  brazen  locks,  not  knowing  where 

They  lead?     For  if  they  come  upon  us  here, 

It  will  be  certain  death.     Shall  we  not  turn 

In  time  and  take  our  ship?     O,  let  me  face 

The  Furies,  rather  than  inflict  this  thing 

On  thee! 

PYLADES. 

What  do  we  know  of  flight?     How  dare 
We  take  a  course  of  which  our  hearts  know  nothing  ? 
Why  should  we  disobey  Apollo's  voice 
And  offer  Him  dishonor?     No!     There  must 
Be  ways.     Come,  let  us  leave  the  Temple,  hide 
Ourselves  in  some  dark  cave  and  shun  the  ship 
Lest  it  should  be  attacked  and  we  be  captured. 

Look!   through  that  opening  between  the  beams 
A  man  might  lower  himself  inside  the  wall !  — 
A  coward  drops  the  cup.     But  a  brave  man's  drink 
Is  hardship.     And  by  all  the  Gods  shall  we, 
Coming  as  far  as  this,  now  at  the  end  turn  back? 

ORESTES. 

No.     Thou  art  saying  what  I  too  should  say. 
6 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


So  let  us  go  and  find  our  hiding-place. 

Phoebus  would  never  tolerate  defeat 

Of    His    commandment.     Come!     Have    we    not 

youth  ?  — 
Add  youth  to  courage,  we  can  move  the  world. 

( They  go  out) 

(The  great  bell  rings.     One  by  one  the  Temple 
Maidens  assemble) 

A  MAIDEN. 

O  ye  who  dwell  upon  these  Clashing  Rocks 

That  guard  the  Euxine  Sea, 
Keep  silence  now  before  Latona's  Daughter, 
Artemis,  Goddess  of  the  pointed  hills! 

(Turning  toward  the  Altar) 

0  Artemis,  I  come 

On  consecrated  feet  into  Thy  court, 

1  hail  Thee  beautiful 

In  Thy  gold  dome  above  the  colonnades! 

A  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

Thy  priestess  calls  me,  she  who  keeps  Thy  keys, 

Who  left  behind,  for  Thee, 
Her  land  of  Hellas,  the  embattled  walls, 
The  shore  of  horses,  and  the  quiet  fields 
7 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Wherein  my  father  lived. 
I  must  obey  her  call  and  worship  Thee 

In  this  embittered  land 
Far  from  Eurotas  and  from  happiness. 

A  THIRD  MAIDEN. 

(Going  to  Iphigenia,  who  enters  from  the  Tern- 
pie) 

0  daughter  of  the  king  that  gathered  ships 
A  thousand  strong  and  led 

Unnumbered  men  against  high-towering  Troy, 

1  heard  thee  call  and  I  have  come  to  thee. 
Why  hast  thou  summoned  us? 

What  makes  thy  cheek  so  thoughtful  and  so  pale? 

What  has  thy  tongue  to  tell, 
That  thy  brow  is  dark  and  bowed  upon  thy  hands? 

IPHIGENIA. 

My  maidens,  listen!     Listen  while  I  tell 

What  I  have  seen.     The  Muse  has  hid  Her  face 

And  I  am  mourning  for  a  kinsman  lost. 

Last  night  I  had  a  dream  of  destiny. 

O  weep  with  me !  —  I  saw  my  brother  dead ! 

My  dream  was  clear.     My  father's  house  is  ended, 

My  race  broken  and  gone,  Orestes  dead! 

What  anguish,  Argos,  art  thou  made  to  bear 
When  Fate  pursues  me  still  and  takes  from  me 
My  only  brother !  — 

8 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


To  the  vanished  dead 
Let  me  now  pour  this  offering,  this  gift 
Upon  the  earth,  commingled  of  the  milk 
Of  mountain-kine  and  of  the  wine  of  Bacchus 
And  of  the  honey  that  the  russet  bees 
Gathered, —  a  soothing  gift  for  him  I  loved. 
Give  me  the  heavy  urn  of  gold,  to  hold 
My  offering  to  the  God  of  Death. 

This  urn, 

Orestes,  son  of  Agamemnon,  thou 
That  liest  dead  beneath  the  earth,  I  bring 
And  pour  for  thee.     Better  I  cannot  bring, 
I  cannot  bring  to  thee  my  heavy  locks, 
I  cannot  lay  them,  weeping,  on  thy  grave. 
And  yet,  though  men  believe  me  long  since  dead, 
I  still  can  weep,  far  from  my  home  and  thee. 

A  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

O  Lady,  woe  is  in  me  for  thy  woe, 

My  song  is  like  the  song 
Of  old  that  mourners  in  the  far-off  east 
Chant  for  the  dead,  reciting  only  death, 

The  very  song  of  hell, 
A  wail  of  no  returning  and  no  hope, 

Using  no  note  of  glory, 
Only  the  desolation  of  the  grave. 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

Mourn  for  the  sons  of  Atreus,  in  whose  house 
9 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


The  hearth  can  never  burn! 
Mourn  for  their  bitter  heritage,  a  home 
That  waits  the  coming  of  some  happy  King 

But  cannot  give  him  welcome! 
Trouble  is  born  forever  in  their  sky 

Since  Phoebus  turned  His  car 
Of  toppling  horses  out  of  the  course  of  joy. 

THE  THIRD  MAIDEN. 

There  was  desired  long  since  a  golden  lamb, 

And  out  of  the  dispute 
Mischief  arose  to  tantalize  thy  house     .     .     . 

THE  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

Vengeance  has  made  its  unappeased  way 

With  every  dart  of  death 
And  visited  thy  family  one  by  one, 

And  now  with  eager  hand 
Fate  is  pursuing  thee.     Thy  turn  has  come. 

IPHIGENIA. 

O  bitter  my  beginning  in  the  womb 

Of  her  who  bore  me,  from  the  very  night 

That  she  conceived!     Appointed  by  the  Fates 

To  suffer  in  this  world,  I  was  a  child 

Accursed.     Yet  how  she  cherished  me,  her  first-born, 

And  thrilled  that  I,  of  all  the  girls  of  Argos, 

Should  be  a  bride  upon  the  way  to  Troy! 

What  had  she  borne  me  for  and  loved  me  for  ?  — 
IO 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


To  come  to  nothing,  through  my  father's  fault! 
To  come,  behind  the  horses  of  delight, 
Not  to  Achilles  —  but  to  grief  and  horror ! 

And  now  beside  this  melancholy  sea 
I  live  my  days  —  lonely,  no  love,  no  friends, 
Wife  of  no  man  and  mother  of  no  child. 
I  know  no  home.     I  sing  no  Argive  song 
With  Argive  women  to  the  Queen  of  Heaven. 
I  weave  upon  the  whirring  loom  no  tale 
Of  Pallas  routing  Titans    .     .     .     O,  instead, 
I  see  an  altar  stained  with  bloody  death. 
I  hear  the  cry  for  pity  and  the  moans 
Of  men  —  a  woe  too  hideous  to  be  told. 

Yet  even  that  is  little  to  me  now  — 
Now  that  a  throne  is  empty  and  his  eyes 
Are  past  all  weeping,  as  I  wish  mine  were. 
For  I  who  loved  Orestes  all  those  years 
Shall  never  see  him  now  but  as  I  left  him, 
A  little  baby  at  his  mother's  breast  — 
I  who  had  thought  to  see  him  as  a  King. 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

Look !  —  from  the  beach  a  herdsman  comes  to  thee, 
Comes  like  a  man  with  news! 

HERDSMAN. 

(Arriving  breathless) 

O  daughter  of  the  house  of  Agamemnon, 
ii 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


I  have  a  thing  to  tell! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Is  it  a  thing 
To  warrant  this  intrusion? 

HERDSMAN. 

Yes     ...     A  ship 
From  sea  has  rounded  the  Symplegades 
And  in  the  mist  two  men  have  come  ashore, 
Young,  worthy  to  be  offered  on  the  altar! 
Make  ready  then  the  Feast  of  Artemis! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Where  are  they  from?  —  what  country?     Couldst 
thou  tell? 

HERDSMAN. 

From  Hellas,  but  I  could  not  say  what  part. 

IPHIGENIA. 

What  were  their  names?    Thou  must  have  heard 
their  names! 

HERDSMAN. 

One  of  them  called  the  other  "  Pylades." 

IPHIGENIA. 

And  the  one  who  spoke? 
12 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


HERDSMAN. 

We  did  not  hear  his  name. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Where  were  they  captured? 

HERDSMAN. 

Down  beside  the  sea. 

IPHIGENIA. 

What  were  you  herdsmen  doing  by  the  sea? 

HERDSMAN. 
Washing  our  cattle  there. 

IPHIGENIA. 

But  answer  me, 

How  were  they  captured  ?     It  is  new  to  me 
And  unbelievable.     For  all  this  time 
Has  passed  and  never  brought  a  Greek  before 
To  bleed  in  sacrifice  —  never  a  Greek. 

HERDSMAN. 

Just  as  we  drove  our  cattle  from  the  woods 
In  that  long  hollow  where  the  curling  tide 
Has  cut  away  the  cliff,  where  fishers  rest 
From  purple-fishing,  one  of  us  ahead 
Came  stealing  back  on  tiptoe  and  he  warned  us: 
"  They  are  not  men  but  Gods !     Behind  that  rock ! 
13 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Not  men   but  Gods ! "     And   then  another  herds- 
man, 
Caught   sight   of   them,   raised   up   his   hands   and 

prayed : 

"  God  in  whose  keeping  are  all  ships,  Palaemon !  — • 
Have  mercy  on  us,  whether  these  be  Sons 
Of  Zeus  or  Brothers  of  the  Fifty  Nereids!  " 
But  another  mocked  our  fear  and  laughed  aloud, 
Daring  the  possible  anger  of  the  Gods. 
For  he  maintained  there  must  have  been  a  wreck 
And  these  were  mariners  who  chose  that  cave 
To  hide  in,  having  heard  that  strangers  here 
Are  sacrificed.     And  he  persuaded  most 
Of  us;  and  we  were  planning  what  to  do 
To  capture  them  —  when  one  of  them  came  out 
Into  full  view  and,  standing  there  a  moment, 
Stared  not  at  us  nor  anything  we  saw 
But  straight  above  him,  groaning,  shuddering, 
And  bent  his  head  from  one  side  to  the  other 
Behind  his  arms,  like  one  delirious, 
And  then  cried  out  as  sharply  as  a  hunter: 
"Look,  Pylades!     O  look  at  her!     O  look! 
There!  —  there!     Dost  thou  not  see  her  now?  — 

that  Fury 

From  hell!     Look  at  the  serpent  on  her  head 
With  mouth  wide  open,  writhing  for  my  blood! 
Another !  —  and  another !     Look  at  her 
High  on  the  cliff,  belching  a  flame  at  me 
And  holding  in  her  hands  my  mother's  body 
14 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


Till  she  can  hurl  it  down  on  me  and  kill  me! 
O  they  are  all  around  me!  Pylades!" 
And  we  could  tell  by  the  motion  of  his  head 
When  the  dogs  barked  or  when  the  cattle  lowed 
That  some  invisible  Fury  mocking  him 
Became  a  threat  to  him  in  every  sound. 

In  our  amazement  we  were  sitting  there 
Like  stricken  men  —  when  out  he  whipped  his  sword 
And,  quick  as  a  lion,  leapt  upon  our  herd 
As  if  attacking  Furies  there.     He  slashed 
Their  sides  with  might  and  main  until  the  rim 
Of  the  sea  was  rolling  thick  with  gore.     We  saw 
Our  herd  wounded  and  dying  and  we  looked 
For  sticks  to  arm  ourselves  and  blew  our  horns 
For  help.     And  then  when  slowly  we  approached 

him  — 

His  madness  left  him.     I  can  see  him  now 
Standing  a  moment.     While  I  watch  he  drops 
In  a  heap  and  foaming  at  the  lips.     Our  chance!  — 
Our     chance!     Forward     we     hurried     with     our 

cudgels 

And  rocks.     But  still  his  comrade,  unafraid, 
Leaned  over  him  and  wiped  his  lips  and  held 
A  linen  fold  above  his  face  protecting  him  — 
Till  suddenly  the  fallen  man  stood  up 
Calm  and  himself  again  and  saw  the  rush 
Of  stones  that  neared  him  like  a  breaking  wave. 
He  gave  one  groan  as  we  surrounded  him; 
And  then  we  heard  his  voice  ring  clear  and  say: 
15 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


"  Death,  Pylades !     Then  let  us  meet  it  well  — 
Like  men !     Out  with  thy  sword  and  follow  me !  " 

Back  from  the  glittering  swords  we  ran,  to  lure 
Them  to  the  glen.     For  there  when  some  of  us 
Would  run  to  shelter  others  could  hurl  rocks 
To  draw  the  pursuers  off  and  then  could  fly 
And  let  the  first  come  back  again  with  stones. 
And  yet  the  destined  offering  stood  clean. 
For,  strange  as  it  may  sound,  of  all  the  stones 
We  volleyed  at  those  men,  not  one  went  true! 
All  we  could  hope  for  was  to  wear  them  out. 
So,  working  round  them  in  a  ring,  we  struck 
Their  swords  with  stones,  until  they  lost  their  hold 
And  had  no  breath  for  the  recovery. 

And  then  we  took  them  captive  to  the  King, 
Who  ordered  us  to  bring  them  here  to  thee 
To  be  prepared  and  bled  for  Artemis. 

Ask  Artemis,  O  priestess,  to  direct 
Other  such  wanderers  as  these  to  Tauris! 
Let  men  from  Hellas  shed  their  blood  for  thine 
Which  men  from  Hellas  clamored  for  at  Aulis! 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

This  is  no  common  man  who  came  away 
From  the  land  of  Hellas  to  an  alien  shore 
And  battled  like  a  God ! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Go  back  and  bring  me  the  two  mariners. 
16 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


I  shall  be  ready  for  them  with  the  rites. 
(Exit  the  Herdsman) 

Poor  heart  of  mine,  which  in  the  days  gone  by 

Was  tender  and  compassionate  to  strangers, 

And  even  yesterday  grew  pitiful 

At  thought  of  men  from  Hellas  coming  here, 

A  cruel  dream  has  changed  thee  overnight. 

For  since  Orestes  is  no  more  alive, 

Now,     where     my     heart     was,     there     is     only 

stone 

And  you  who  come  today,  no  matter  who, 
Will  find  in  me  a  woman  without  tears. 

Friends,  by  my  own  unhappiness  I  know 
That  the  experience  of  evil  days 
Brings  disregard  for  lesser  sufferers. 

No  heaven-sent  wind  has  ever  forced  a  ship 
Between  the  Clashing  Rocks,  bringing  me  Helen, 
That  Helen  whom  I  hate,  and  Menelaus, 
That  I  might  make  of  them  the  sacrifice, 
Let  a  new  Aulis  expiate  the  old  — 
And  have  my  vengeance !  —  It  was  Helen's  fault 
And  his,  that  Greek  hands  lifted  me  at  Aulis 
And  led  me  like  a  beast  before  the  altar  — 
Where  he  who  held  the  knife  was  my  own  father. 

I  live  it  all  again.     My  hands  groping 
Go  out  to  him  again  and  touch  his  beard 
17 


Iphigema  in  Tauris 


And  cling  about  his  knees.     I  cry  to  him: 
"  O  thou  thyself,  thyself,  hast  brought  me  here ! 
Thou  hast  deceived  my  maidens  and  my  mother! 
They  sing  my  marriage-song  at  home,  they  fill 
The    house   with    happiness    .     .     .     and    all    the 

time 

Here  am  I  dying  —  slain,  father,  by  thee! 
Thou  hast  led  me  in  thy  chariot,  to  take 
Achilles  for  my  lord.     But  here  is  death  — 
And  on  my  lips  no  kiss  but  only  blood !  " 

And  I  had  left  my  home  with  my  white  veil 
Drawn  down.     I  had  not  taken  in  my  arms 
My  brother,  who  is  dead,  nor  kissed  my  sister. 
I  had  saved  all  my  kisses  and  embraces 
For  him  I  thought  to  marry     .     .     .     Yet  my  heart 
Was  homesick  even  then  and  ached  with  hope 
That  I  should  soon  come  back  again  to  Argos. 

And  thou  art  dead,  Orestes,  and  thou  too 
Foregoest  our  inheritance,  our  home! 

O  what  has  Artemis  desired  of  me?  — 
She  who  forbids  Her  court  to  any  man 
Whose  hand  is  stained  with  bloodshed  or  with  touch 
Of  childbirth  or  of  burial,  calls  him 
Unclean  and  bans  him  —  She  so  scrupulous 
In  all  these  things  —  will  yet  receive  the  blood 
Of  human  beings  on  Her  altar-stone? 
It  is  not  credible.     Latona  bore 
To  Zeus  no  daughter  so  unkind!     The  thing 
18 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Is  no  more  true  than  are  the  tales  they  tell 

Of  Tantalus  preparing  for  the  Gods 

A  child  whom  They  devoured     .     .     .     Artemis, 

These  people  being  murderers  themselves, 

Impute  to  Thee  their  own  iniquity. — 

No !  —  I  will  not  believe  it  of  a  God ! 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

Who  can  these  be  that  left  the  holy  streams 

Of  Dirce,  or  the  reeds 
Green-growing  in  Eurotas,  to  prefer 
This  bitter  beach,  to  dare  the  ominous  rocks 

Where  the  seas  meet  in  fog, 
Where  Artemis,  among  Her  colonnades 

Demanding  sacrifice, 
Receives  upon  Her  altars  human  blood? 

THE  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

Why  have  they  urged  the  oarsmen  on  their  ship 

To  shake  the  clinging  sea 
With  a  great  stroke,  and  to  accelerate 
With  rush  of  rivalry  the  racing  wind? 

Was  it  to  sweep  the  shores 
For  riches  and  to  vie  in  bearing  home, 

Each  to  upbuild  his  house, 
The  treasures  and  the  trophies  of  the  world? 

That  glittering  hope  is  immemorial 
And  beckons  many  men 
19 


Iphigenia  In  Tauris 


To  their  undoing.     Ever  insatiate, 

They  sail  the  sea  and  look  to  foreign  towns 

To  fill  their  ships  with  spoil. 
But  some  men  never  find  prosperity, 

For  all  their  voyaging; 
.While  others  find  it  with  no  voyaging. 

THE  THIRD  MAIDEN. 

How  have  they  passed  the  peril  of  the  rocks 

That  clash?  and  of  the  beach 
Of  Phineus  heavy  with  broken  waves? 
How  have  they  turned  their  rudder  to  the  land 

Where  the  Fifty  Nereids 
Hand  in  hand  dance  and  circle  round  and  sing, 

Where  the  wings  of  ocean  brood, 
And  where  Achilles  rode  by  the  dark  water? 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

My  Lady  prayed  that  Fate  might  hither  bring, 

On  the  way  home  from  Troy, 
The  cause  of  her  great  misery.     O  would 
That  Helen,  Helen  had  been  blown  ashore, 

That  on  her  fatal  head, 
,For  recompense,  the  holy  drops  might  fall 

And  that  my  Lady's  knife 
Might  find  in  her  the  fitting  sacrifice! 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

But  I  have  prayed  for  a  deliverer, 
20 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Some  mariner  from  Hellas 
Able  to  end  our  pain  and  set  us  free. 
Ever  I  go,  though  only  in  a  dream, 

Back  to  my  father's  home     .     .     . 
No  man  has  greater  riches  than  the  joy 

That  comes  to  us  in  visions  — 
They  cannot  take  away  from  us  our  dreams. 

THE  THIRD  MAIDEN. 

Look  where  they  come !  —  two  captives  bound  in 

chains ! 

The  herdsman's  news  was  true! 
Hush  for  the  offering  to  Artemis! 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

See,  Hellas,  how  thy  hands  are  impotent* 
To  change  this  ritual! 

THE  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

O  Artemis,  if  Tauris  in  Thy  sight 

Win  favor  by  this  gift, 
Assert  Thy  custom  and  receive  this  blood! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Let  me  now  think  of  none  but  Artemis 

And  serve  Her  with  the  worship  She  demands. 

Loosen  their  hands.     For  in  this  holy  court 
Chains  are  unhallowed  things.     Enter  the  Temple. 
21 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Prepare  the  altar  for  the  ritual. 
( Turning  to  the  captives) 

I  wonder  who  your  mother  was?  —  your  father?  — 

Whether  you  had  a  sister  who  has  lost 

Her  brothers  and  laments  their  bravery?  — 

Invisible  and  mute,  Fate  comes  and  goes 

And  never  whispers  where  Her  blow  shall  fall ; 

None  of  us  ever  sees  Her  in  the  dark 

Or  understands  Her  cruel  mysteries. 

Tell  me,  unhappy  men,  where  are  you  from  ?  — 

You  who  are  far  from  home  and  yet  must  go 

Farther  away  from  home  even  than  this! 

ORESTES. 

What  woman  art  thou,  weeping  for  our  lot? 
What  can  we  mean  to  thee,  to  draw  thy  pity, 
To  make  our  tribulation  difficult? 

There  is  no  wisdom  in  lamenting  death 
And  only  fools,  when  they  behold  it  near, 
Meet  it  with  tears.     The  man  who  doubles  death 
By  the  cowardice  of  pitying  himself 
Earns  for  himself  contempt  as  well  as  death     .     .     . 
Let  us  accept  our  fortune  as  it  comes  — 
No  pity  and  no  tears !     We  dared  our  fate. 
And  what  we  undertook  —  we  undertook. 

IPHIGENIA. 

One  of  your  names  was  brought  me  by  a  herdsman. 

22 


Iphigenia  In  Tauris 


Tell  me  then,  which  of  you  is  Pylades? 

ORESTES. 

He,  if  it  does  thee  any  good  to  know. 

IPHIGENIA. 
And  from  what  town  in  Hellas? 

ORESTES. 

Does  it  matter? 

IPHIGENIA. 
And  are  you  brothers? 

ORESTES. 

In  all  else  but  birth. 

IPHIGENIA. 

And  what  may  I  call  thee? 

ORESTES. 

Unfortunate! 

IPHIGENIA. 

That  would  be  pity's  name  for  thee,  not  mine. 

ORESTES. 

Then  say  I  have  no  name  and  call  me  nothing. 
23 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 
Art  thou  so  jealous  for  thy  reputation? 

ORESTES. 

Come,  sacrifice  my  body,  not  my  name! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Thou  wilt  not  even  name  for  me  thy  town? 

ORESTES. 

I  am  so  soon  a  townsman  of  no  town. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Surely  it  is  not  much  to  tell  me  that. 

ORESTES. 
Ah,  but  it  is  —  when  one  can  answer,  "  Argos  " ! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Argos?  not  Argos?  thou  art  not  from  Argos? 

ORESTES. 

My  town,  Mycenae,  was  a  lordly  place. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Then   what   could   bring  thee   from   it?  —  banish- 
ment? 

ORESTES. 

A  kind  of  banishment  —  yet  self-imposed. 
24 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

How  fortunate  to  see  a  son  of  Argos! 

ORESTES. 

But  not  to  be  one  in  thy  company! 

IPHIGENIA. 
And  let  me  ask  about  another  town  — 

ORESTES. 

But  why  this  questioning? 

IPHIGENIA. 

O  tell  me  news 

Of  that  most  talked-of  town  in  all  the  world! 
What  hast  thou  heard  of  Troy? 

ORESTES. 

By  all  the  Gods, 
I  wish  that  I  had  never  heard  its  name! 

IPHIGENIA. 

But  is  it  true  that  Troy  is  overthrown? 

ORESTES. 

Its  towers  lie  broken  in  the  dust. 

IPHIGENIA. 

And  Helen? 

Has  Menelaus  taken  Helen  back? 
25 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


ORESTES. 

And  soon  repented.     For  she  brings  him  sorrow. 

IPHIGENIA. 

She  brought  me  sorrow  too.    Where  is  she  now? 

ORESTES. 

Gone  back  with  him  to  Sparta. 

IPHIGENIA. 

How  I  hate 
The  name  of  Helen!     How  all  Hellas  hates  it! 

ORESTES. 

I  have  my  own  good  cause  for  hating  it. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Did  the  Achaeans  return  home  contented? 

ORESTES. 

It  would  take  many  tongues  to  answer  that. 

IPHIGENIA. 

But  tell  me  quickly,  while  there  still  is  time! 

ORESTES. 

Then  ask  me  quickly.     I  will  answer  thee. 

IPHIGENIA. 

What  of  the  soothsayer,  Calchas?    Where  is  he? 
26 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


ORESTES. 

Reported  dead  at  home. 

IPHIGENIA. 

O  Artemis, 
Hail  for  that  news!     And  is  Odysseus  dead? 

ORESTES. 

Neither  at  home  nor  dead  —  but  wandering. 

IPHIGENIA. 

O  how  I  pray  he  never  reaches  home! 

ORESTES. 

Why  wish  him  that?     Has  he  not  borne  enough? 

IPHIGENIA. 

What  of  Achilles? 

ORESTES. 

Dead.     His  marriage  planned 
At  Aulis  never  happened. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Those  who  knew 
About  that  plan  knew  it  a  cruel  lie. 

ORESTES. 

Knowing  these  things,  art  thou  thyself  from  Hellas? 
27 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

I  was,  but  lost  my  home  long,  long  ago. 

ORESTES. 

No  wonder  thou  art  asking  me  these  questions! 

IPHIGENIA. 
What  of  that  king  they  called  The  Happy  King? 

ORESTES. 

The  one  I  think  thou  meanest  was  not  happy. 

IPHIGENIA. 

I  ask  of  Agamemnon. 

ORESTES. 

I  know  nothing, 
Nothing  of  him.     O  ask  me  no  more  questions! 

IPHIGENIA. 

But  no  news  must  be  good  news!     Say  it  is! 

ORESTES. 

The  news  is  death  —  his  and  another's  death. 

IPHIGENIA. 

O  Agamemnon !     O  King  Agamemnon ! 

ORESTES. 

Could  he  be  kin  to  thee,  thou  carest  so? 
28 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

Remembering  his  glory  and  his  pride! 

ORESTES. 

All  of  it  ended  by  his  own  wife's  hand. 

IPHIGENIA. 
O !  —  Pitiable  woman !     Poor,  poor  king ! 

ORESTES. 

Ask  me  no  more,  I  beg,  not  one  word  more ! 

IPHIGENIA. 

But  is  she  living?     Answer  me  but  that! 

ORESTES. 

Her  own  son  killed  her. 

IPHIGENIA. 
Why? 

ORESTES. 

To  be  avenged 
On  her  who  killed  his  father. 

IPHIGENIA. 

How  exact 

He  was,  how  just!     Yet  how  I  pity  him! 
29 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


ORESTES. 

And  well  thou  mayest.     No  God  pities  him. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Not  one  of  Agamemnon's  children  left? 

ORESTES. 

Electra,  yes.     But  loses  him  she  loves! 

IPHIGENIA. 

What  has  been  said  of  her  they  sacrificed? 

ORESTES. 

Nothing  of  her,  except  that  she  is  dead. 

IPHIGENIA. 

O  miserable  king,  willing  to  slay  her! 

ORESTES. 

O  wicked  war  caused  by  a  wicked  woman, 
And  all  the  waste  and  wicked  consequence! 

IPHIGENIA. 

The  son  of  the  dead  king  —  alive  in  Argos  ? 

ORESTES. 

Living,  but  not  in  Argos,  not  in  Argos ! 

IPHIGENIA. 

My  dream  was  nothing  then,  it  lied  to  me! 
30 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


ORESTES. 

Dreams,  lies,  lies,  dreams, —  nothing  but  emptiness! 
Even  the  Gods  with  all  Their  name  for  wisdom 
Have  only  dreams  and  lies  and  lose  Their  course, 
Blinded,  confused  and  ignorant  as  we. 

The  wisest  man  is  he  who  goes  his  way 
And  listens  to  no  prophet  guiding  him. 
The  fool  is  he  who-  follows  oracles, 
Forsaking  his  own  judgment.     Those  who  know 
Know  such  a  man  can  only  come  to  wreck. 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

O  who  will  bring  us  news  whether  our  kin 
Are  living  or  are  dead ! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Let  me  suggest  a  plan  that  I  have  thought  of, 
To  our  advantage,  yours  as  well  as  mine. 
And  nothing  makes  more  surely  for  achievement 
Than  interests  in  common.     Tell  me  this     .     .     . 
Wilt  thou  go  back,  if  I  can  grant  thee  leave, 
Bearing  for  me  to  Argos  and  my  friends 
A  letter  that  has  been  prepared  for  them? 
My  words  were  written  down  by  one  who  died 
Here  at  my  ritual  but  pitied  me, 
Blaming  his  blood  on  Artemis,  not  me. 
No  one  had  come  from  Hellas,  not  one  Greek, 
Whose  life  might  be  conceded  to  bear  home 
My  message.     But  in  thee  I  find  a  man 
Worthy  to  carry  it,  knowing  the  names 
31 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


And  places  dear  to  me.     And  so  I  ask 
Thy  help  and  offer  in  exchange  thy  life  — 
With  one  condition:  that  thy  friend  remain, 
To  pay  the  sacrifice  to  Artemis. 

ORESTES. 

I  thank  thee,  Lady,  for  a  fair  proposal, 

Save  in  that  one  respect.     What  would  my  life 

Be  worth  to  me,  earned  by  deserting  him? 

I  am  the  captain  of  this  misadventure, 

And  he  but  sailed  with  me  to  comfort  me. 

It  would  be  wrong  if  he  should  pay  the  cost 

And  I  repudiate  my  enterprise. 

Thy  errand  shall  be  done  —  but  not  by  me. 

Give  him  thy  confidence,  give  him  thy  letter. 

To  thee  it  makes  no  difference  which  of  us 

Carries  the  message  homeward.     And  to  me 

It  makes  no  difference  when  I  die  or  how. 

But  if  I  brought  disaster  on  a  friend 

And  yet  myself  went  free,  then  there  would  be 

No  faith  left  in  me,  no  respect,  no  love. 

Besides,  his  life  is  dear  to  me  as  mine. 

His  life  is  mine.     For  in  his  life  —  I  live. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Thou  hast  a  heart  of  gold  and  must  be  sprung 
From  some  great  seed,  to  be  so  true  a  friend. 
If  only  the  survivor  of  my  race 
May  be  like  thee!     I  have  a  brother  left, 
32 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Although  I  should  not  know  him  by  his  face. 
As  thou  hast  chosen  then,  so  let  it  be. 
Thy  friend  shall  take  the  letter  —  and  thou  prove 
Thy  love  by  laying  down  thy  life  for  him. 

ORESTES. 

Whose  is  the  hand  that  sacrifices  me? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Whose  hand  but  mine!     Artemis  willed  it  so. 

ORESTES. 

Thy  hand!     Thy  poor,  unenviable  hand! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Wliat  is  imposed  on  me  I  must  obey. 

ORESTES. 
A  woman  hold  the  knife  to  shed  men's  blood! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Not  that !  —  O  not  the  knife !  —  Only  the  water, 
The  sacrificial  water  for  thy  brow. 

ORESTES. 

Who  is  it  then  that  strikes  the  final  blow  ? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Inside  the  Shrine  are  men  who  do  that  part. 
33 


Iphigema  in  Tauris 


ORESTES. 

When  I  am  burnt,  what  happens  to  my  body? 

IPHIGENIA. 
They  seal  the  ashes  in  a  rocky  cleft. 

ORESTES. 

0  that  my  sister's  hand  might  tend  my  body! 

IPHIGENIA. 

She  is  too  far  away  from  thee  to  hear 
Petition  for  the  gift  she  cannot  give.     .     .     . 
Being  from  Argos,  let  me  care  for  thee, 
Let  me  do  everything  that  she  might  do! 

1  will  array  thy  body  in  rich  robes  — 
Then  pour  upon  the  embers  yellow  oil 
Cooling  and  clean  and  the  golden  essences 
That  bees  collect  from  every  mountain-flower, 
To  make  thee  pure  and  sweet.     .     .     . 

Now  I  must  go 

And  bring  my  letter.     I  have  kept  it  here 
So  long  a  while. —  O  think  of  me  with  pity. 

See  that  you  guard  these  men,  but  do  not  bind  them. 

O  if  at  last  my  letter  should  arrive 
In  Argos  and  be  opened  by  the  hand 
Of  him  I  love,  a  letter  never  dreamed-of, 
Then  he  would  listen  through  the  opening  grave 
And  hear  my  living  lips  cry  out  to  him! 
34 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


(She  goes  into  the  Temple) 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

I  pity  thee  upon  whose  fated  head 
The  water  shall  be  sprinkled! 

ORESTES. 

But  choose  not  pity.     Change  it  into  hope. 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

Let  me  then  hope,  but  not  for  thee,  for  him, 

That  he  may  come  again 
Into  his  father's  country  and  be  blest. 

PYLADES. 

But  how  can  he  be  blest  who  leaves  his  friend? 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

Or  I  hold  back  my  pity  for  thy  death? 

THE  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

And  yet  I  pity  thee,  having  to  live. 

THE  THIRD  MAIDEN. 
Which  is  unhappier? 

THE  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

I  cannot  tell, —  I  watch  and  cannot  tell 
Whether  to  pity  thee,  or  thee,  the  more. 
35 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


ORESTES. 

O  Pylades,  what  art  thou  thinking  of? 

PYLADES. 

What  dost  thou  think  that  I  am  thinking  of  ? 

ORESTES. 

This  woman!     Thou  rememberest  her  questions, 

Each  one  so  apt;  of  the  defeat  of  Troy, 

Of  the  Achaeans'  homecoming,  of  Calchas, 

Of  Achilles,  and  her  great  concern 

At  Agamemnon's  death  and  then  her  questions 

About  his  wife  and  children?     I  believe 

That  she  herself,  she  too,  belongs  in  Argos !  — 

Or  she  would  never  send  a  letter  there 

And  make  all  these  inquiries  anxiously 

As  if  the  fate  of  Argos  were  her  own. 

PYLADES. 

Thou  hast  expressed  what  I  was  wondering. 

And  yet  I  thought  it  natural  enough 

That  in  a  city  at  all  civilized 

People  should  ask  about  the  fate  of  kings     .     .     . 

But  that  was  not  what  troubled  me,  so  much  as  — 

ORESTES. 

As  what?    Tell  me  and  let  me  help  thee  solve  it. 

PYLADES. 

How  canst  thou  wr6ng  me,  thinking  I  would  live 
36 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


And  let  thee  die?     As  I  set  out  with  thee 

So  shall  I  journey  with  thee  to  the  end, 

Or  I  should  never  show  my  face  again 

Among  the  hills  of  Argos,  but  to  be 

Despised  and  pointed  out  in  every  valley 

As  one  who  had  betrayed  a  friend.     And  worse 

Than  that  would  be  declared  of  me,  the  worst 

That  evil  minds  can  conjure  and  enjoy  — 

Even  that  I  had  wished  thy  death,  or  caused  it, 

That  I  might  profit  by  inheritance 

And,  being  thy  sister's  husband,  win  thy  throne. 

See  how  afraid  I  am  and  how  ashamed 
Of  the  very  thought  of  leaving  thee.     One  way, 
And  only  one  is  open.     Where  thou  goest, 
Though    to    the   knife   and    to    the    flame,    I    fol- 
low— 
That  I  may  be  beyond  a  doubt  thy  friend. 

ORESTES. 

Thou  canst  not  be  my  friend  and  yet  deny  me. 

I  bear  a  load  that  cannot  be  laid  down, 

And  wilt  thou  lighten  thine  by  doubling  mine? 

All  the  humiliating  shame  that  thou 

But  fearest  from  men's  tongues  would  fall  to  me 

In  my  own  heart  from  my  own  conduct,  if  I  let 

The  services  thou  didst  me  bring  thee  harm. 

What  has  Fate  left  me  of  my  life  to  cherish 
But  a  good  ending?     As  for  thee,  my  friend, 
Thou  hast  not  any  right  to  choose  to  die. 
37 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


Thou  hast  the  blessing  of  thy  happy  blood 

To  make  thee  wish  to  live.     And  so  I  pray 

That  by  thy  life  a  comfort  may  be  brought 

To  my  afflicted  house.     O  Pylades, 

When  thou  art  home,  there  with  thy  wife,  my  sister, 

Beget  for  me,  dear  friend,  my  happiness. 

Let  my  name  live  again  and  in  thy  children 

The  house  of  Agamemnon  be  renewed. 

Therefore  go  back  and  make  my  home  thy  home. 

And  having  come  to  Hellas  and  the  shore 

Where   the   Argive   horsemen    ride  —  give   me    thy 

hand 

And  swear  that  thou  wilt  make  a  grave  for  me 
And  lay  on  it  memorials  and  let 
My  sister  bring,  remembering  me,  a  lock 
Of  her  long  hair.     Tell  her  that  I  was  led 
Before  the  altar  by  the  hand  of  one 
Who  came  from  Argos,  by  a  woman's  hand, 
And  how  my  blood  at  last  was  purified. 
O  Pylades,  be  good  to  her,  be  true! 
And  fare  thee  well,  my  best  and  truest  friend, 
Loved  in  my  boyhood  when  I  shared  my  sport 
Over  the  hills  with  thee  and  in  my  manhood 
When  my  sorrows  came  and  thou  wert  with  me  still ! 

By  falsely  prophesying,  Phoebus  lied 
To  me  and  tricked  me ;  luring  me  away 
From  home,  lest  watchful  eyes  in  Hellas  see 
That  Gods,  like  men,  can  break  Their  promises. 
38 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


I  gave  Him  everything,  my  faith,  my  will, 

I  killed  my  mother  for  He  bade  me  strike     .     .     . 

And  in  return  He  has  forsaken  me. 

PYLADES. 

Let  me  obey  then  not  myself  but  thee  — 
And  build  thy  tomb  in  Hellas.     Be  assured 
That  I  shall  love  thy  sister  well  and  always. 
And  having  loved  thee  living,  I  shall  know 
How  to  receive  thee  closer  in  thy  death     .     .     . 
If  death  it  be.     We  marvel  at  the  Gods 
And  their  mysterious  way  of  keeping  hid 
The  face  of  life  behind  a  mask  of  death, 
Then  showing  the  true  face. 

ORESTES. 

The  time  is  gone 
For  the  Gods  to  show  that  face  —  for  she  has  come. 

IPHIGENIA. 

(Returning  and  addressing  the  Attendants) 
Precede  me  into  the  Temple  and  be  ready. 
(The  Attendants  enter  the  Temple) 

Here  is  my  letter,  all  this  length  of  it     .     .     . 
Yet  I  have  wondered.     When  a  man  arrives 
39 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Out  of  his  danger,  he  forgets  his  fear 
And  sometimes  he  forgets  his  promises. 
Wherefore  my  apprehension  lest  thy  friend, 
When  he  is  freed  and  on  his  way  again, 
Forget  how  much  this  letter  means  to  me. 

ORESTES. 

And  what  dost  thou  propose,  to  ease  thy  mind? 

IPHIGENIA. 

That  he  shall  swear  to  take  this  where  I  say. 

ORESTES. 

And  wilt  thou  make  an  oath  matching  his  oath? 

IPHIGENIA. 

To  do  what,  or  undo  what? 

ORESTES. 

To  obtain 
Safe  quittance  for  him  from  this  wretched  place. 

IPHIGENIA. 

What  would  his  oath  be  good  for,  lacking  mine? 

ORESTES. 

But  will  the  King  of  Tauris  let  him  sail? 

IPHIGENIA. 

I  can  persuade  the  King  and  will  myself 
Go  to  the  ship  and  put  thy  friend  aboard. 
40 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


ORESTES. 

Then  state  the  oath  that  thou  wilt  have  him  swear. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Promise  to  give  this  letter  to  my  friend. 

PYLADES. 

I  swear  to  give  this  letter  to  thy  friend. 

IPHIGENIA. 

And  I  to  give  thee  safeguard  from  this  place. 

PYLADES. 

Thou  swearest  by  what  name? 

IPHIGENIA. 

By  Artemis, 
Whose  favor  be  upon  me  in  Her  temple! 

PYLADES. 
And  I  by  Zeus  Himself,  by  Heaven's  King. 

IPHIGENIA. 

And  if  thou  failest  to  fulfill  thy  oath? 

PYLADES. 

Then  may  I  never  see  Argos  again !  — 
And  if  thou  failest  in  fulfilling  thine? 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

Then  let  me  fail  ever  to  come  to  Argos. 

PYLADES. 
There  is  one  chance  that  we  have  not  considered. 

IPHIGENIA. 

A  chance,  thou  meanest,  that  affects  thy  word? 

PYLADES. 

The  oath  would  not  be  fair  if  it  should  happen 
That  in  a  storm  the  vessel  should  be  wrecked 
Or  strike  a  rock  and  everything  go  down 
And  yet  my  life  be  saved  —  and  not  the  letter. 
In  that  event  I  ask  to  be  exempted. 

IPHIGENIA. 

In  any  plan,  two  ways  make  one  way  sure     .     .     . 

Then  let  me  tell  thee  carefully  word  by  word 

The  contents  of  my  letter,  thou  in  turn 

To  tell  it  to    my  friend.     And  that  insures  us. 

For  either  thou  shalt  place  it  in  his  hand 

And  let  the  silent  writing  speak  or  else 

The  writing,  lost,  shall  echo  still  in  thee. 

PYLADES. 

That  will  be  safer  both  for  thee  and  me. 
So  tell  me  whom  to  find  for  thee  in  Argos 
And  what  to  say  to  him. 
42 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

Say  this  to  him, 

Say  to  Orestes,  son  of  Agamemnon, 
A  greeting  comes  from  one  he  thought  was  dead. 
Tell  him  his  sister  is  not  dead  at  Aulis 
But  is  alive. 

ORESTES. 

Alive?     Iphigenia? 
O  no !  —  Unless  the  dead  come  back  again ! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Thou  art  beholding  her,  for  I  am  she. 
But  let  me  finish  what  I  ask  of  him: 
"  O  brother,  rescue  me !     Let  me  not  live 
The  priestess  of  a  loathly  ritual !  — 
Let  me  not  die  forlorn,  in  a  wild  land !  " 

ORESTES. 

Where  am  I,  Pylades?     What  am  I  hearing? 

IPHIGENIA. 

"  Lest     thou,     remembering    me,    shalt    have     no 

peace !  "  — 
The  name,  thou  must  repeat  it,  is  Orestes. 

PYLADES. 
Ye  Gods! 

43 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

Not  Gods  but  a  woman  speaks  to  thee. 

PYLADES. 

It  seemed  I  heard  the  Gods  —  and  yet  heard  thee! 
O  let  me  listen  further  and  make  sure! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Tell  him  that  Artemis  put  out  Her  hand 
And  spared  my  life  at  Aulis,  leaving  a  deer 
To  bleed  for  me  instead,  and  that  my  father, 
Not  looking  when  he  struck,  thought  he  slew  me. 
Artemis  brought  me  here.    .    .    .    The  letter  ends. 

PYLADES. 

0  what  an  easy  oath  it  is  to  keep! 

Lady,  keep  thine  or  not  —  I  keep  mine  now. 

1  bring  thee  this,  Orestes,  from  thy  sister. 

ORESTES. 

How  can  I  look  at  letters  ?  —  Come  to  me ! 
O  let  me  look  at  thee  whom  I  had  lost !  — 
O  let  me  touch  thee  with  my  hands  and  prove 
That  thou  art  real  and  hold  thee  close,  close! 

THE  THIRD  MAIDEN. 

Lay  not  thy  hands,  no  matter  who  thou  art, 

Upon  those  holy  robes !  — 
Bring  not  indignity  to  Artemis! 

44 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


ORESTES. 

Thou  art  my  sister,  my  own  father's  daughter, 
And  nature  will  not  let  thee  turn  away 
From  thy  own  brother  given  back  to  thee. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Ah,  thou  wouldst  make  me  think  that  thou  art  he !  - 
Orestes  is  in  Argos  and  not  here. 

ORESTES. 

No,  my  poor  sister,  not  in  Argos !  —  here ! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Then  was  Tyndareus  thy  mother's  father? 

ORESTES. 

Yes,  and  my  father's  grandfather  was  Pelops. 

IPHIGENIA. 
What  art  thou  saying?     How  can  I  believe  thee? 

ORESTES. 

By  asking  me  about  our  father's  home. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Then  speak  of  it !  —  for  I  am  listening !  —  speak ! 

ORESTES. 

Electra  used  to  tell  us  tales  of  Atreus 
And  of  Thyestes,  how  they  came  to  quarrel. 
45 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

It  was  about  a  golden  lamb  they  quarreled  1 

ORESTES. 

And  thy  hands  made,  with  fine  embroideries, 
A  pattern  of  the  quarrel. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Art  thou  he? 
Art  thou  in  truth  my  brother  ?  —  art  thou  he  ? 

ORESTES. 

There  was  a  picture,  on  thy  loom,  of  Phoebus 
Changing  His  course.     Hast  thou  forgotten  that? 

IPHIGENIA. 

O  not  one  thread  of  it  have  I  forgotten! 

ORESTES. 

There  was  a  bath  of  bridal  fragrances 

Thy  mother  sent  to  Aulis. —  Thou  rememberest? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Everything  on  that  day  I  can  remember  — 
But  happiness. 

ORESTES. 

A  lock  of  hair  that  came, 
Sent  to  thy  mother. 

46 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

A  memorial 

I  meant  it  for,  commemorating  me  — 
To  mark  a  grave  where  I  could  never  lie. 

ORESTES. 

And  I  recall  a  keepsake  in  thy  room, 
The  ancient  spear  that  Pelops  once  had  used 
To  win  his  bride. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Orestes,  O  my  brother! 
My  home  has  come  to  me  from  far  away! 
For  thou  art  come,  I  have  thee  in  my  arms ! 

ORESTES. 

And  I  have  thee  in  mine,  whom  I  thought  dead! 
No  wonder  that  the  tears  are  in  our  eyes !  — 
Of  joy,  not  sorrow !  —  yet  of  sorrow  too ! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Thou  wert  a  baby,  when  I  came  away, 
Lifted  to  see  me.     And  thy  little  arms 
Held  out  to  me  are  come  to  me  again, 
Grown  strong  to  comfort  me.     How  can  I  speak 
My  joy!     There  is  no  language  sweet  enough! 
There  is  no  joy  like  this.     There  never  was! 

THE  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

And  would  that  we  might  say  it  need  not  end ! 
47 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

I  am  bewildered.     And  I  cannot  think 

What  I  should  say,  my  friends  ?  —  I  cannot  think 

Of  anything  but  joy  —  except  a  fear 

That  he  might  vanish  as  he  came.     O  Argos, 

Land  of  my  love,  my  heart  is  full  of  thee, 

And  of  my  brother  thou  hast  borne  and  bred 

To  be  a  living  glory  to  thy  name! 

ORESTES. 

We  who  were  born  to  happiness  have  lived 
And  learned  unhappiness. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Unhappiness  ?  — 

0  how  I  learned  it  when  against  my  throat 
My  own  unhappy  father  held  the  knife! 

ORESTES. 

1  have  a  vision  of  his  stricken  face. 

IPHIGENIA. 

And  the  false  marriage,  when  the  marriage-hymn 
Was  made  of  tears!  ^Not  to  Achilles'  arms 
I  went,  but  to  the  coldness  of  the  altar  — 
And  felt  the  bitter  waters  on  my  head. 

ORESTES. 

Unhappy  daughter  and  unhappy  father! 
48 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

But  why  have  pity  on  a  pitiless  man 
Who  brought  me  all  this  grief  ? 

ORESTES. 

And  might  have  brought 
On  thee  to-day  —  the  slaying  of  thy  brother! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Some  God  prevented.     But  I  came  so  near, 
My  hand  was  so  impending  on  the  deed, 
That  I  am  shaken  with  the  thought  of  thee  — 
Dead!    .     .    . 

We  have  seen  today  a  miracle 
Begin.     How  shall  it  end  for  thee  and  me? 
How  shall  I  speed  thee  safely  from  this  place 
Of  horror  home  again?     For  there  are  swords 
To  face:  a  question  fitter  for  thy  wit 
To  weigh  than  mine,  though  thou  art  shaken  too. 
Shouldst  thou  be  safer  travelling  by  foot 
Than  by  the  ship  ?     No,  no !  —  I  see  thee  go 
Losing  thy  way  among  barbarians 
Ashore,  encompassed  by  a  thousand  deaths. 
The  ship  is  better  —  even  that  sharp  return 
Between  the  Clashing  Rocks.    Go !  —  dare  the  sea, 
Take  to  the  ship  again !     And  yet  who  knows 
If  God  or  man  shall  guide  thee  on  the  sea 
To  liberation?  —  or  if  any  chance 
Can  save  thee  now  to  make  our  home  a  glory? 
49 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


THE  THIRD  MAIDEN. 

I  have  heard  marvellous  tales  from  story-tellers, 

But  nothing  to  compare 
With  this  event  which  my  own  eyes  have  seen. 

PYLADES. 

Orestes,  it  is  natural  for  thee 

To  greet  thy  sister  and  recount  with  her 

The  happenings  of  thy  house.     But  there  are  things 

Of  urgency  to  think  of:  our  escape 

Out  of  this  land  and  how  to  compass  it. 

For  he  is  wise  who  makes  a  friend  of  Fortune 

And  goes  to  meet  her  when  she  comes  to  him. 

ORESTES. 

Well  said!  —  and  let  her  be  well  met  to-day!  — 
For  every  God  helps  him  who  helps  himself. 

IPHIGENIA. 

But  he  shall  tell  me  first  about  my  sister, 
About  Electra !  —  Tell  me  of  my  sister ! 

ORESTES. 

This  is  her  husband.     He  has  made  her  happy. 

IPHIGENIA. 

This  man  ?  —  But  who  — 

ORESTES. 

A  Phocian.     Strophius'  son. 
50 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 
Then  he  is  Atreus'  grandson !  —  Our  own  house ! 

ORESTES. 
Thy  cousin;  my  one  friend. 

IPHIGENIA. 

As  yet  unborn 
That  day  I  came  away  to  die! 

ORESTES. 

The  son 
Of   Strophius  in  old  age. 

IPHIGENIA. 

I  welcome  thee, 
My  sister's  husband. 

ORESTES. 

Closer  to  me  than  brother. 

IPHIGENIA. 

But  O  our  mother  ?  —  for  thou  hast  not  told  me  — 

ORESTES. 
Let  us  not  speak  of  her!  —  she  killed  my  father. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Thou  hast  not  told  me  why. 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


ORESTES. 

Then  do  not  ask  me. 

IPHIGENIA. 

May  I  not  ask  if  thou  art  King  of  Argos? 

ORESTES. 

Not  King  but  exile.     Menelaus  is  King. 

IPHIGENIA. 

What  ?  —  in  thy  time  of  grief  he  banished  thee  ? 

ORESTES. 

Not  he  but  Furies  —  the  avenging  Fiends! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Thy  madness  on  the  beach  —  it  was  the  Fiends  ? 

ORESTES. 

Yes,  yes !     One  seeing  me  might  think  me  mad. 

IPHIGENIA. 

And  they  pursue  thee  for  thy  mother's  death? 

ORESTES. 

To  catch  me  and  to  curb  me  with  her  blood ! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Thy  coming  here? 

52 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


ORESTES. 

An  oracle  of  Phoebus. 

IPHIGENIA. 
Which  I  may  know  about? 

ORESTES. 

O  let  me  tell 
My  bitter  narrative  from  end  to  end     .     .     . 

After  this  poor  hand  had  unspeakably 
Punished  my  mother's  most  unspeakable  guilt, 
Down  on  my  head  they  came  attacking  me, 
The  Fiends  from  Hell.     Then  Phoebus  ordered  me 
To  Athens,  that  I  might  protest  their  judgment 
At  the  Tribunal  Zeus  had  sanctified 
To  the  trial  of  Ares  for  some  ancient  sin. 

When  I  arrived  there,  none  of  all  my  friends 
Received  me.     They  avoided  me  at  first 
As  one  unclean.     Later  they  pitied  me 
And  gave  me  food  in  the  same  room  with  them, 
But  at  a  separate  table.     And  they  served  me 
An  equal  measure  with  themselves  and  filled 
My  cup  when  theirs  were  filled,  but  turned 
Away  and  would  not  look  at  me  nor  speak 
With  me  —  because  I  was  a  murderer.     .     .     . 
And  I  showed  no  resentment  but  in  silence, 
As  though  I  did  not  care,  I  thought  of  her 
Whom  I  had  killed  and  drank  my  bitter  cup. 

They  say  that  the  Athenians  memorize 
53 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


My  sorrow  with  a  feast,  the  Pitcher  Feast, 
In   which    each    man    drinks    his    own    cup    in    si- 
lence.    .     .     . 

When  I  had  come  to  judgment  on  that  hill, 
I  on  one  side  and  on  the  other  side 
The  eldest  of  the  Avengers  charging  me 
With  murder,  Phoebus  rose  to  my  defence 
And  by  His  eloquence  redeemed  my  life. 
For  Pallas,  in  the  chair,  finding  the  votes 
Cast  evenly,  for  and  against  me,  added 
Her  own  vote  for  me  and  acquitted  me. 

Some  of  the  Furies  acquiesced  and  chose 
To  infest  a  Temple  close  to  the  Tribunal. 
Others  defied  the  verdict  as  unjust 
And  turned  on  me  again,  tormenting  me, 
Till  I  fled  back  to  Phoebus  for  His  aid, 
Fell  down  before  the  Shrine,  faint  with  despair, 
And  swore  to  take  my  life  —  unless  the  God 
Who  had  confounded  me  would  rescue  me. 

And  then  out  pealed  His  voice,  His  golden  voice 
Above  the  tripod,  telling  me  to  go 
Among  the  Taurians,  to  take  away 
Their  Artemis  of  stone  carven  in  Heaven 
And  to  establish  it  and  worship  it 
In  Athens. 

Help  me  now  to  do  this  thing! 
O  help  me,  sister,  to  obey  the  God 
And  carry  out  His  mission!     Help  me,  sister!  — 
If  only  I  may  take  within  my  hands 
54 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


The  image  of  the  Goddess,  I  am  rid 

Of  madness!     And  I  urge  thee  with  a  gift 

Of  rugged  rowers  to  row  thee  back  to  Argos! 

0  sister,  sister,   for  our  father's  house 

1  beg  thy  aid,  to  save  that  house  and  me! 
Unless  we  take  the  Image  with  thy  help, 
This  very  day  shall  see  our  house  destroyed. 

THE  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

Some  God  is  visiting  ancestral  sin 
Upon  new  generations. 

IPHIGENIA. 

How  long,  before  thy  coming,  had  I  dreamed 

Of  thee  and  of  my  country!     How  I  wish 

With  thee  the  restoration  of  our  house  — 

Even  his  house  who  would  have  slain  me!     Brother, 

My  heart  has  melted  in  our  misery. 

I  have  no  anger  left,  but  only  thought 

Of  thee  escaping  and  our  house  revived. 

What  can  I  do?  —  how  hide  from  Artemis?  — 
And  how  put  off  the  King  when  he  perceives 
But  empty  air  upon  the  pedestal? 
I  am  afraid  —  no,  not  of  death  itself 
But  of  the  interim,  the  dying  hope.     .     .     . 
If  we  might  take  the  Image  and  be  quick 
And  flee  together  on  thy  leaping  ship !  — 
But  we  should  fail.     Yet  if  I  stay  to  hide 
Thy  flight,  when  the  discovery  is  made 
55 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


—  The  ravished  Image !  —  Ah  but  death  is  good 
If  by  my  dying  thou  returnest  home     .     .     . 
If  a  man  die  —  a  house,  a  name,  is  lost. 
But  if  a  woman  die  —  what  does  it  matter? 

ORESTES. 

It  mattered  when  my  mother  died.     If  now 
Thy  death  were  added,  I  should  have  to  take 
Two  deaths  upon  my  head.     Instead  of  that, 
Let  come  what  may,  I  mean  to  share  thy  fate  — 
Alive  in  Greece,  or  here  beside  thee  dead. 

But  it  is  evident  the  Gods  are  with  us. 
If  Artemis  opposed,  should  I  have  been 
Expressly  sent  by  Her  own  Brother  here 
To  bring  Her  Image  back?     She  wishes  it  — 
For  in  the  very  Temple  of  the  Image 
As  a  good  omen  I  have  seen  thy  face! 
O  what  does  all  this  mean  but  our  return? 

IPHIGENIA. 

How  can  we  steal  the  Image  and  not  die? 

ORESTES. 

Can  we  not  kill  the  King? 

IPHIGENIA. 

And   dare  the   Gods 
Again  ?  —  for  he  was  kind  to  me. 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


ORESTES. 

And  yet 
It  might  be  dared  —  if  it  would  save  our  lives ! 

IPHIGENIA. 

I  like  thy  boldness.     But  it  cannot  be. 

ORESTES. 

Shall  I  stay  hidden  in  the  shrine  till  dark? 

IPHIGENIA. 

And  then  at  night  escape? 

ORESTES. 

Are  we  not  thieves? 
The  day  for  honest  men,  the  night  for  thieves! 

IPHIGENIA. 

We  could  not  pass  the  guards. 

ORESTES. 

What  can  we  do  then? 

IPHIGENIA. 
Perhaps  we  — 

ORESTES. 
What? 

57 


Iphigenia  In  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

May  use  our  own  misfortune! 

ORESTES. 
Women  have  ways  of  changing  ill  to  good. 

IPHIGENIA. 

I  shall  announce  thee  as  a  matricide!     .     .     . 

ORESTES. 

If  there  is  good  in  that,  make  use  of  it  I 

IPHIGENIA. 

As  one  unworthy  to  be  sacrificed! 

ORESTES. 

Thou  meanest?  —  ah  but  I  can  guess! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Unclean, 
Unpurified  and  unacceptable! 

ORESTES. 

But  how  does  that  attain  our  purpose? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Pure 

Sea-water  must  be  used  to  cleanse  thy  sin! 
58 


Iphigenla  in  Tauris 


ORESTES. 

But  that  would  mean  the  Image  left  behind 
And  all  our  labor  unfulfilled. 

IPHIGENIA. 

She  too, 

Having  been  touched  by  thy  approach,  must  be 
Washed  clean,  the  Image  tool 

ORESTES. 

And  might  it  be  — 
There,  by  the  inlet — ? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Where  thy  ship  is  moored. 

ORESTES. 
And  who  will  bring  the  Image?  —  none  but  thee? 

IPHIGENIA. 

For  none  may  ever  carry  it  but  me. 

ORESTES. 
And  Pylades?  —  is  he  a  murderer  too? 

IPHIGENIA. 

He  aided  thee.     He  also  must  be  cleansed. 

ORESTES. 

A  story  for  the  guards  —  but  for  the  King? 
59 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

In  any  case  I  could  not  keep  it  from  him. 
So  he  shall  hear  it  and  shall  be  persuaded. 

ORESTES. 

The  oarsmen  shall  be  ready  for  their  orders, 
But  here  ashore  thine  is  the  sole  command. 

Yet  let  me  ask  one  question.     Will  these  women 
Be  true  to  thee  and  not  betray  thee?     Pray 
For  their  assistance.     Urge  them  and  convince  them. 
Thou,  as  a  woman,  knowest  woman  well. 
Then  use  the  power  of  thy  need  of  pity     .     .     . 
And,  after  that,  let  Heaven's  high  will  be  done! 

IPHIGENIA. 

0  friends  who  have  been  near  and  dear  to  me, 

1  trust  you!     On  you  depends  my  destiny, 
Whether  I  keep  or  lose  my  home,  my  kin. 
Woman  to  women,  I  appeal  to  you. 

For,  knowing  our  own  weakness,  we  are  bound 
To  feel  a  woman's  need  and  to  defend 
Our  sex  and  to  be  loyal.     Will  you  not 
Be  silent  now  for  my  sake?     This  is  all, 
Yes,  all  I  ask  of  you, —  only  your  silence. 
By  honoring  us,  do  yourselves  honor  too! 

See  how  a  single  chance  is  left  us  three!     .     .     . 
Discovery  means  death.     Escape  means  home! 

If  I  escape,  shall  I  not  work  for  you 
Till  I  deliver  you?  —  till  thou  and  thou 
60 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Shall  join  me  in  my  joy  at  home  in  Hellas  — 
And  thou  and  thou !     I  pray  thee  by  thy  hand ; 
Thee  by  thy  cheek ;  thy  knees ;  thee  by  thy  home ; 
Thy  father  and  thy  mother;  thee,  thyself 
A  mother  with  a  child  away  from  thee, 
I  pray  thee  by  that  child :  —  be  merciful ! 

O  which  of  you  consent?  —  and  which  refuse, 
When  to  refuse  us  means  betraying  us? 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

0  count  upon  us,  Lady,  on  our  love  — 
And  go  thy  way  content! 

By  Zeus  we  swear  unbroken  loyalty. 

IPHIGENIA. 

1  bless  you  for  those  words.     I  wish  you  joy. 

(To  Orestes  and  Py lades) 

Now     do     thy     part  —  and     thine.     Enter     the 

Temple. 

The  King  will  soon  be  here  to  make  inquiry 
Whether  the  strangers  have  been  sacrificed. 

(Orestes  and  Pylades  go  int«  the  Temple) 

Grim  Goddess,  having  saved  me  once  before, 
Now  save  me  with  my  brother  and  his  friend, 
Lest  Phoebus  be  disproved  because  of  Thee 
61 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


And  men  forsake  His  oracle!     O  come 

In  gracious  might  away  from  this  bleak  place, 

Away  from  gloom  —  to  Athens  and  to  glory  I 

(She  follows  int»  the  Temple) 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

0  sad-voiced  ocean-bird,  heard  in  the  foam 
Low  by  the  rocky  ledge 

Singing  a  note  unhappy  hearts  can  hear, 
The  song  of  separation  from  thy  mate, 
The  moan  of  separation, 

1  have  no  wings  to  seek  like  thee,  but  I 
Can  sing  a  song  like  thee, 

A  song  of  separation  from  my  mates. 

At  home  in  Hellas  now  are  gathering 

My  kinsmen.     Artemis 

Blesses  the  new-born  from  Her  Cynthian  hill 
And  soothes  the  mothers  with  the  cooling  palm 

And  bay  and  olive-tree, 
Where  once  Latona  loved  the  winding  streams 

And  watched  the  rounded  pools 
White  with  the  song-like  motion  of  the  swans. 

Alas!  the  falling  tears,  the  towers  fallen, 

The  taking  of  our  towns! 
Alas !  the  clash  of  bright  and  angry  spears 
That  captured  me  aboard  an  alien  ship !  — 
62 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Whence  I  was  sold  away 
To  be  an  exile  here,  a  handmaiden 

With  Agamemnon's  daughter, 
Doomed  to  the  bloody  rites  of  Artemis. 

THE  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

And  at  these  altars  where  the  sacrifice 

Is  not  of  sheep  but  men, 
I  envy  those  unhappy  from  their  birth; 
For  to  be  bred  and  seasoned  in  misfortune 

Is  to  be  iron  to  it.     ... 
O  there  is  something  in  the  pang  of  change 

More  than  the  heart  can  bear  — 
Unhappily  remembering  happiness. 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

Lady,  a  ship  is  here  to  take  thee  home, 

And  in  the  rowers'  ears 
Pan  shall  be  sounding  all  his  pointed  notes, 
Great  mountains  echoing  to  his  little  reed, 

And  Phoebus  on  his  lyre 
Shall  strike  profound  the  seven  strings  and  sing 

To  thee  of  Attica, 
Shall  sing  to  thee  of  home  and  lead  thee  there. 

Oar  after  oar  shall  dip  and  carry  thee, 

Lady,   away   from   me, 
Oar  after  oar  shall  push  the  empty  sea 
Wider,  wider,  leaving  me  lonely  here, 
63 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Leaving  me  here  without  thee. 
And  forward  over  the  unceasing  bow 

Thy  sail  shall  faster  run, 
Ever  refilling  with  the  unspent  wind. 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

0  to  go  swiftly  like  the  winged  sun 
Upon  his  dazzling  track 

And  not  to  let  my  golden  light  be  folded 
Until  I  touched  my  house,  my  roof,  my  room! 

Then  I  should  go  again 
To  noble  marriages  and  take  my  place 

In   the  bright  company, 
Give  them  my  hands  and  circle  round  and  dance. 

And  I  should  strive  to  be  the  loveliest 

In  all  my  looks  and  ways, 
In  my  unrivalled  brightness  of  attire 
And  in  the  motion  of  my  hands  and  feet; 

And  my  embroidered  veil 

1  should  hold  closely  round  me  as  I  danced 
And  I  should  hide  my  cheek 

In  the  soft  shadow  of  my  clustering  curls. 

(Enter  King  Thoas  with  Soldiers) 

THOAS. 

Where  is  the  keeper  of  the  Temple-gates, 
The  maid  of  Hellas?     Is  her  labor  done?  — 
64 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Are  the  victims'  bodies  burning  in  the  shrine? 

A  MAIDEN. 

See  where  she  comes,  to  answer  thee  herself. 

(Iphigenia    comes    out    of   the    Temple,    carrying 
the  Image) 

THOAS. 

What  does  this  mean,  daughter  of  Agamemnon? 
Why  hast  thou  brought  the  Image  from  its  place  ? 

IPHIGENIA. 

0  King,    stand    back !  —  stand    back    beyond    the 

threshold ! 

THOAS. 

Is  it  some  new  observance  in  the  Temple? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Stay  back,  I  tell  thee,  from  Her  holy  presence! 

THOAS. 

1  will  stay  back,  but  tell  me,  tell  me  why 
Thou  bearest  Her  like  this. 

IPHIGENIA. 

The  sacrifice 

Thou  gavest  to  the  Goddess  was  unclean. 
65 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


THOAS. 

How  dost  thou  know?  —  what  makes  thee  think  — 

IPHIGENIA. 

She  turned 
Away  from  them, —  away  when  they  approached. 

THOAS. 

Might  it  not  be  some  tremor  of  the  ground 
That  moved  Her. 

IPHIGENIA. 

No.     By  Her  own  will  She  moved  — 
And  even  for  a  moment  shut  Her  eyes. 

THOAS. 

Because  of  blood  upon  the  strangers'  hands? 

IPHIGENIA. 

It  was  Her  divination  of  their  guilt. 

THOAS. 

Whose  blood  ?     A  Taurian's  blood  ?  —  killed  on  the 
beach  ? 

IPHIGENIA. 

The  guilt  was  with  them  when  they  came;  the  stain 
Of  killing  their  own  kin! 
66 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


THOAS. 

Their  kin?    What  kin? 

IPHIGENIA. 

A  mother !  —  whom  they  murdered  in  cold  blood ! 

THOAS. 

O  great  Apollo,  what  barbarian 

Would  do  the  thing  these  Greeks  have  done  ? 

IPHIGENIA. 

But  Greeks 
Disowned  and  homeless,  hunted  out  of  Hellas. 

THOAS. 

Even  then  why  bring  the  Image  here? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Defiled, 

She  must  be  purified,  be  touched  again 
By  Her  own  firmament. 

THOAS. 

How  dost  thou  know 
So  well  the  nature  of  their  infamy  ? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Seeing  Her  turn  away,  I  asked  them  why. 
67 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


THOAS. 

Thou  art  a  Greek,  quick-witted,  a  true  Greek! 

IPHIGENIA. 

They  too   are   Greeks.     They  thought   they  could 

appease  me 
With  pleasant  news. 

THOAS. 

Of  Argos? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Of  my  brother, 
News  of  Orestes. 

THOAS. 

To  inveigle  thee! 

IPHIGENIA. 
And  of  my  father  —  that  he  lives  and  prospers. 

THOAS. 

Thou  hadst  no  doubt,  however,  of  thy  duty? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Has  not  all  Hellas  well  deserved  my  hate? 

THOAS. 

What  must  we  do  with  them? 
68 


Iphigenla  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

Observe  the  law. 

THOAS. 

Thou  meanest  with  the  water  and  the  knife? 

IPHIGENIA. 

First  fully  cleanse  them  of  their  sin. 

THOAS. 

With  water 
From  a  bubbling  spring  or  from  the  salty  sea? 

IPHIGENIA. 

The  sea  is  the  absolvent  of  all  evil. 

THOAS. 

The  sea  would  better  please  the  Goddess  then? 

IPHIGENIA. 
And  me. 

THOAS. 

The  breakers  almost  reach  these  walls. 

IPHIGENIA. 

But  certain  of  the  rites  are  secret  rites. 

THOAS. 

Then  choose  thy  place  and  fear  no  trespasser. 
69 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


IPHIGENIA. 

And  I  must  purify  the  Image  too. 

THOAS. 

Have  they  contaminated  even  Her? 

IPHIGENIA. 

So  that  I  had  to  bring  Her  from  Her  place. 

THOAS. 

Thanks  for  thy  reverential  care. 

IPHIGENIA. 

O  King, 
Command  the  help  I  need. 

THOAS. 

Ask  —  it  is  given. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Then  let  the  strangers  be  well  bound. 

THOAS. 

Why  that? 
Where  could  they  think  to  flee? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Beware  of  Greeks! 

70 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


THOAS. 

(To  his  Servants) 
Go,  bind  them. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Have  them  brought  to  me. 

THOAS. 

And  bring  them. 

IPHIGENIA. 

But  hang  a  heavy  veil  over  their  heads. 

THOAS. 

For  they  must  not  be  witnessed  by  the  sun. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Send  soldiers  with  me. 

THOAS. 

Choose  thy  guard  from  these. 

IPHIGENIA. 
And  let  a  herald  warn  all  citizens. 

THOAS. 
Of  what? 

IPHIGENIA. 

To  stay  indoors  till  this  is  done. 
7i 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


THOAS. 

Lest  they  as  well  might  suffer  the  contagion? 

IPHIGENIA. 

From  matricide. 

THOAS. 

Go  tell  the  herald  this. 

IPHIGENIA. 
And  anyone  I  care  for  — 

THOAS. 

Meaning  —  me? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Him  above  all  I  caution  against  harm, 
Not  to  come  near. 

THOAS. 

Thou  carest  what  we  do. 


THOAS. 

And  what  thou  dost  means  much  to  us. 

IPHIGENIA. 

Wait  here,  O  King  —  thy  share  is  in  the  Temple. 
72 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


THOAS. 
To  — 

IPHIGENIA. 

Purify  it  with  the  smoke  of  torches. 

THOAS. 

It  shall  be  fragrant,  priestess,  to  receive  thee. 

IPHIGENIA. 

When  they  come  by  — 

THOAS. 

What  must  I  do? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Hold  up 
Thy  robe  and  look  away. 

THOAS. 

From  the  contagion. 

IPHIGENIA. 

And  if  I  seem  delayed  — 

THOAS. 

How  shall  I  tell? 

IPHIGENIA. 

Be  not  surprised,  but  patient. 
73 


Iphigema  in  Tauris 


THOAS. 

Take  thy  time 
And  serve  the  Goddess  to  the  uttermost. 

IPHIGENIA. 

If  it  but  end  as  I  desire!  — 

THOAS. 
And  I! 

IPHIGENIA. 

Ah,  here  they  come !  —  the  strangers  and  the  robes, 
And  lambs  whose  blood  shall  offset  other  blood, 
And  burning  torches  and  all  instruments 
Purification  needs  for  them  and  Her. 

Away,  O  citizens,  be  not  polluted! 
You  keepers  of  the  gates,  keep  clean  your  hands! 
Men  who  would  marry,  women  who  would  bear, 
Be  not  polluted !  —  look  away  —  away ! 

0  Virgin  Goddess,  if  these  murderers 

Be  cleansed  as  I  would  have  them  cleansed  and  Thou 
Be   brought   as   well   where    I   would   have   Thee 

brought, 
Thy  Temple  shall  be  clean  and  we  be  blest ! 

1  say  no  more  —  but  Thou  and  those  who  know 
May  render  the  conclusion  of  my  prayer. 

74 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


(The   procession    passes   out.     Thoas    enters   the 
Temple) 

THE  THIRD  MAIDEN. 

Latona  bore  one  day  a  golden  Child, 

O  Artemis,  Thy  Brother, 
Phoebus,  the  darling  of  the  vales  of  Delos  — 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

Whose  little  fingers  hovered  on  the  harp 
And  pulled  at  archery. 

THE  THIRD  MAIDEN. 

Leaving  His  birthplace,  to  Parnassus'  top 
The  Mother  brought  Her  Boy  — 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

Where  Dionysus  flings  the  waterfall. 

THE  THIRD  MAIDEN. 

There  hidden  coiling  in  the  leafy  laurels 

A  serpent,  with  bright  scales 
And  blood-red  eyes,  a  creature  born  of  Earth, 
Guarded  the  cave  that  held  Earth's  oracle. 

Phoebus,  beholding  it,  leaped  up 
Out  of  His  Mother's  arms,  a  little  Child, 

And  struck  the  serpent  dead  — 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

And  on  that  day  began  His  prophecies. 
75 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


THE  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

Phoebus  Apollo,  Thou  hast  won  the  throne, 

The  tripod  of  the  truth! 
And  in  the  very  centre  of  the  earth 
Thou  hearest  wisdom;  and  Thy  voice  conveys, 

Accompanied  by  all 
The  run  and  ripple  of  Castalian  springs, 

The  inmost  oracles 
That  ever  Heaven  whispered  to  the  Earth. 

THE  THIRD  MAIDEN. 

But  Earth  had  wished  the  oracles  to  go 

To  Themis,  Her  own  daughter, 
And  in  Her  anger  bred  a  band  of  dreams 
That  in  the  night  should  be  oracular 

To  men,  foretelling  truth. 
And  this  impaired  the  dignity  of  Phoebus 

And   of    His   oracles  — 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

And  the    baby  God  went  hurrying  to  Zeus, 
Coaxed  with  His  little  hands  and  begged  of  Zeus 
To  send  the  dreams  away    .     .     . 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

And  He  was  very  pleased  to  have  His  son 

Come   straight   to   Him   with   troubles.     And    His 

head 
Decided  with  a  nod 

76 


Iphigenla  in  Tauris 


And  bade  men  turn  from  the  prophetic  dark 
And  every  haunting  shape  — 

THE  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

And  listen  only  to  the  lips  of  Light. 

A  MESSENGER. 

(Entering  breathless) 

O  all  you  ministers  and  temple-guards, 

Where   is  King  Thoas  gone?     Open  the  gates 

And  call  King  Thoas  out!     O  call  the  King! 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

If  we  may  ask  unbidden  —  is  something  wrong  ? 

THE  MESSENGER. 

The  two  young  men  have  broken  free  and  fled, 
With  Agamemnon's  daughter  aiding  them  — 
And  on  their  ship  have  taken  Artemis! 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

A  likely  story!  —  Wouldst  thou  find  the  King, 
He  left  the  Temple  but  a  moment  since. 

THE  MESSENGER. 
Where  was  he  bound  ? 

77 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

I  do  not  know  which  way. 

THE  SECOND  MAIDEN. 

Go  look  for  him,  go  find  him  with  thy  story! 

THE  MESSENGER. 

O  treacherous  women!     You  would  put  me  off, 
You  are  in  the  plot  yourselves! 

THE  THIRD  MAIDEN. 

Art  thou  gone  mad? 

What    are    these    men    to    us?     Quick!     To    the 
Palace! 

THE  MESSENGER. 

Not  till  I  know  to  my  own  satisfaction, 
Not  till  I  rouse  the  keepers  of  the  Shrine 
To  answer  me!     Ho!     You  inside!     Unbar 
The  door!     The  King,  if  he  is  there,  tell  him 
A  messenger  has  come  with  evil  news! 

(He  beats  at  the  dotr) 
THOAS. 

(Appearing  at   the    Temple-Door) 

Who  makes  this  outcry,  desecrates  the  door 
And  shakes  this  holy  place? 
78 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


THE  MESSENGER. 

Their  fault!  —  their  fault! 

They  told  me  thou  wert  absent  from  the  Temple, 
They  put  me  off  from  finding  thee. 

THOAS, 

But  why? 
Why  should  they  wish  — 

THE  MESSENGER. 

Let  that  come  afterward. 
O  listen  first  to  what  I  have  to  tell!  — 
Iphigenia  who  was  priestess  here 
Has  joined  the  strangers,  fled  with  them  and  taken 
Artemis'  Image !  —  the  cleansing  was  a  lie ! 

THOAS. 

Unthinkable!  —  What  evil  influence  — 

THE  MESSENGER. 

The  chance  to  save  Orestes  —  yes,  Orestes ! 

THOAS. 

Orestes?  —  which  Orestes?     Not  her  brother? 

THE  MESSENGER. 

Yes,  whom  the  Goddess  wanted  for  Her  altar. 

THOAS. 

It  is  impossible,  I  cannot  grasp  it! 
79 


Iphigenia  in   Tauris 


THE  MESSENGER. 

But  do  not  stop  to  grasp  it !  —  listen  first, 
Consider  what  to  do !  —  and  then  command 
What  means  may  intercept  and  capture  them! 

THOAS. 

There  is  no  danger  in  these  Taurian  Seas 
Of  their  escaping.     For  the  way  is  shut  — 
Stationed  and  cordoned  with  a  ring  of  ships! 

THE  MESSENGER. 

No  sooner  had  we  reached  the  bend  of  shore 
Which  hid  their  ship,  than  Agamemnon's  daughter 
Made  signs  to  us  to  drop  the  rope  that  bound 
The  men,  to  leave  them  and  fall  back.     It  seemed 
That  she  was  ready  to  perform  the  rites, 
To  light  the  mystic  flame  and  bless  the  sea. 
She  took  the  rope  herself  and  followed  them 
Still  further.     And  we  felt  presentiment 
Of  something  wrong.     But  what  were  we  to  do? 
We  heard  her  voice  chant  a  high  mystery 
Of  phrases  in  an  unknown  tongue,  seeming 
To  us  the  ceremonial  incantation, 
The   ritual   of   purifying  sin. 
And  then  we  waited  a  long  time.     At  last 
The  fear  occurred  to  us  that  they  had  burst 
Their  bonds,  had  killed  her  and  escaped.     But  still 
We  waited,  fearing  with  an  equal  fear 
To  see  what  was  forbidden  us  to  see     ... 
80 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Until  with  one  accord  agreeing  to  it 
We  disobeyed  and  went  to  find  them. 

There 

We  saw  the  ship  from  Hellas  near  the  shore, 
And  fitted  in  the  tholes  were  fifty  oars 
Like  feathers  in  a  wing,  and  just  astern 
The  two  youths  boarding  her.     Some  held  the  prow 
With  poles  thrust  in  the  water,  others  brought 
The  anchor  up.     The  rest  had  made  of  rope 
A  ladder  hanging  from  the  rail.     By  this 
We  knew  their  scheme.     And  we  laid  hold  at  once 
Of  the  Greek  maid  and  seized  the  trailing  ladder 
And  pulled  their  rudder-oar  away  from  them 
To  cripple  them  and  cried :     "  What  treachery 
Is  this  ?  —  to  steal  our  priestess  and  our  God  ? 
Who  art  thou  and  whose  son  to  raid  our  land 
And  bear  our  priestess  off?"     And  he  replied: 
"  I  am  Orestes,  son  of  Agamemnon, 
I  am  her  brother.     Now  you  know  the  truth. 
And  she  is  bound  for  Greece,  out  of  which  land 
I  lost  her  long  ago  —  bound  home !  " 

We  clung 

To  her  and  meant  to  drag  her  from  her  friends 
To  thee;  which  is  the  way  I  came  by  these, 
This  bruise  —  and  this.     They  struck  my  face  both 

sides. 

They  had  no  weapons,  we  had  none.     We  used 
Our  fists  and  they  their  fists,  even  their  feet 
With  kicks  well-aimed  at  us  from  where  they  stood 
81 


Iphigenia  in  Taurls 


Above  us  —  at  our  heads  and  sides.     We  fought 
Till  we  were  breathless.     Then,  with  bruises 
And  cuts  and  blood-filled  eyes,  we  climbed  the  cliff 
And,  from  our  vantage,  pelted  them  with  stones  — 
Till  the  Greek  archers  had  arranged  their  bows 
And  kept  us  a  distance  with  their  arrows. 

Then  when  a  giant  wave  bore  them  inshore, 
Orestes  quickly  lifted  up  his  sister 
Out  of  the  rush  of  it.     Holding  her  high 
On  his  left  shoulder,  plunging  stride  by  stride, 
He  caught  the  ladder,  swung  aboard  the  ship 
And  held  her  safe  on  deck.     And  she,  she  held  — 
She  had  it  still  —  the  Image  out  of  Heaven, 
The  Image  of  the  Daughter  of  high  Zeus! 

Then  a  glad  call  exulted  through  the  ship: 
"  O  mariners  of  Hellas,  grip  your  oars 
And  clip  the  sea  to  foam!     O  let  your  arms 
Be  strong,  for  we  have  won,  have  won,  have  won 
What  we  set  out  to  win !     We  have  defied 
The  jagged  Clashing  Rocks  —  and  we  have  won!" 

A  shout  of  joy  responded  and  the  ship 
Quivered  with  dipping  oars  and  shot  ahead. 
But  this  was  only  while  the  shelter  lasted; 
For  at  the  harbor-mouth  a  high  wave  met  her 
And  threw  her  off  her  course.     She  turned  about, 
Caught  by  the  stormy  wind,  until  her  stern 
Was  foremost  and  her  prow  toward  shore.     They 

tugged 

The  oars,  rallied  and  strained  —  but  every  time 
82 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


They  brought  her  round,  tl\e  deep  wave  dragged  her 

back 

Again.     And  Agamemnon's  daughter  stood 
And  prayed :     "  O  save  me,  Artemis,  from  this 
Unhappy  place  —  to  Hellas!  —  and  forgive 
My  theft!     As  Thou,  O  Goddess,  lovest  well 
Phoebus,  Thy  brother,  shall  I  not  love  mine  ?  " 

The  sailors'  praises  echoing  her  prayer, 
They  bent  their  bodies  and  their  great  bare  arms 
And  shoulders,  swaying  like  the  sea, 
To  the  boatswain's  cry.     But  closer  to  the  cliff, 
Closer  and  closer  still  they  drew.     And  some 
Sprang  out  into  the  sea.     And  some  began 
Attempts  to  fasten  hold  on  the  sharp  shore 
With   ropes.     And   then   our   men   despatched   me 

here, 

O  King,  to  tell  thee  of  this  thing.  ...  So  come 
With  chains  and  cords  —  for  while  the  sea  is  high, 
There  is  no  earthly  chance  of  their  escape! 

Poseidon,  God  of  the  Sea,  remembering  Troy, 

The  city  that  He  loved,  confounds  today 

The  wretched  children  of  her  enemies 

And  will  deliver  up  to  thee  and  thine 

The  son  and  daughter  of  the  King  of  Argos  — 

That  daughter  who,  forgetful  now  of  Aulis, 

Betrays  the  Goddess  who  was  kind  to  her. 

(The  Messenger  goes  out) 
83 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

O  Lady,  Lady !  —  O  alas  for  thee ! 

In  Taurian  hands  again, 
Thou  and  thy  brother  surely  now  shall  die! 

THOAS. 

Come,  citizens,  and  be  uncivilized! 
Leap  on  your  horses!     Whip  them  to  the  beach! 
Wait  with  me  there  until  a  wave  shall  break 
That  ship  from  Hellas.     Then  —  be  after  them! 
And    hunt    them    down,    each    damned    dog    of 

them! 

Do  this  for  Artemis.     And  some  of  you 
Go  launch  my  galleys,  lest  one  man  of  them 
Should  die  untortured!     Run  them  down  by  sea 
And  land!     Go  hurl  them  from  the  cliffs! 
O  catch  them,  kill  them,  crucify  them,  end  them! 

And  as  for  you,  you  miserable  women, 
Count  on  the  punishment  you  have  deserved 
By  treachery !     I  have  not  time  for  you  — 
With  this  to  do.     But  O  when  this  is  done! 

(In  the  confusion  appears,  with  instant  dominion, 
Pallas  Athena) 

ATHENA. 

Be  calm,  King  Thoas!     What  is  this  pursuit? 
Hold  back  and  listen  to  Athena's  word. 
84 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Hold  back  the  soldiers,  hold  them  every  one. 

Apollo  sent  Orestes  to  this  land 

To  free  him  from  the  Fiends  of  punishment 

And  told  him,  through  the  oracle,  to  bring 

Iphigenia  home  again  to  Argos 

And  likewise  to  my  land  the  holy  Image.     .     .     . 

That  is  my  word.     And  let  me  follow  it 

With  news  that  this  Orestes  thou  wouldst  hunt 

Is  gliding  on  a  comfortable  sea 

Made  easy  by  Poseidon  for  my  sake. 

Orestes !  —  thou  canst  hear  a  God  far-off  — 

Obey  me!     Take  thy  sister  and  the  Image 

Safely  to  Hellas.     Go  to  God-built  Athens 

And,  passing  through,  go  forward  to  the  end 

Of  Attica.     Find  there  a  holy  place 

Close  to  Carystus'  hill,  a  place  called  Halae. 

There  build  a  Temple.     There  set  up  the  Image. 

Name  it  for  Tauris,  to  immortalize 

Thy  penitence  and  thy  deliverance, 

Thy  labors  and  thy  love.     Let  men  acclaim 

The  Taurian  Artemis,  brought  there  by  thee. 

And  let  this  be  the  law:     When  they  observe 
Her  festival     ...     in  token  of  thy  fate 
The  priest  must  hold  against  a  human  throat 
The  sharp  blade  of  his  knife  and  touch  the  edge 
With   blood,   then   cease  —  meaning  that   life,   not 

death, 

Is  the  true  element  of  sacrifice. 
85 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


Iphigenia!  —  there  are  steps  for  thee 

Hewn  to  the  rocky  Shrine  of  Artemis 

At  Brauron.     There  the  keys  be  in  thy  keeping. 

There  shalt  thou  die,  be  buried  and  receive 

Upon  thy  grave  most  honorable  gifts, 

The  purely-woven  raiment  of  dead  mothers 

Who  honorably  died  in  giving  birth. 

O  Thoas,  I  command  thee,  send  to  Hellas 
These  women.     They  were  true. — 

I  saved  thee  once, 

Orestes,  when  on  Ares'  hill  I  judged  thee 
And  voted  for  thee  when  the  votes  were  equal. 
Now  let  it  be  the  law  that  he  who  earns 
An  equally-divided  verdict  wins 
His  case.     Therefore  go  safely  from  this  land, 

0  son  of  Agamemnon.     And  thou,  Thoas, 
Be  thou  content  to  put  thy  wrath  away. 

THOAS. 

He  who  is  discontented  when  the  Gods 
Have  given  judgment  —  is  a  fool.     For  my  part, 
Goddess,  I  bear  no  grudge  against  Orestes 
Nor  against  her  who  took  away  the  Image. 

1  make  no  opposition  to  a  God, 

For  where  would  be  the  use?     So  let  them  go 
In  peace  and  set  the  Image  in  Thy  land. 
These  women  too  may  go  —  they  shall  be  sent 
To  Hellas  to  be  happy.     At  Thy  word, 
86 


Iphigenia  in  Tauris 


I  bid  my  ships  turn  back  from  the  pursuit     . 
Behold  my  spirit  and  my  spear  bowed  down. 

ATHENA. 

Well-spoken!  For  thy  spirit  learns  a  law 
Greater  than  thou  and  greater  than  the  Gods. 

O  winds  of  heaven,  blow  Orestes  home  — 
And  I  will  guide  him  on  his  way  to  Athens, 
Guarding  Thy  Image,  Artemis,  my  Sister. 

THE  FIRST  MAIDEN. 

Fare  well  in  your  good-fortune!     May  it  bring 
Joy  to  you  always. 

THE  FOURTH  MAIDEN. 

Pallas  Athena,  blessed  is  Thy  name 

In  Heaven  as  on  the  earth. 
Let  us  be  mindful  that  Thy  words  are  wise 
And  welcome  and  unlooked-for  and  complete 

And  let  us  do  Thy  will, 
O  Conqueror  of  hatred  and  of  fear!     .     .     . 

The  more  in  Thee  we  lose 
Our  lives,  the  more  we  find  our  life  in  Thee. 


THE   END 


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